12 Apr 2025 to 1 Jun 2025
1 Sep 2025 to 22 Sep 2025
4 Sep 2025 to 28 Sep 2025
Short+Sweet Theatre Sydney 2017
Welcome to Short+Sweet - the largest short play festival in the world. Each week is a totally different program featuring new writers, directors and a totally new cast. This year we're presenting 160+ plays over eight weeks from Jan 11 at the Depot Theatre. You’ll see the best new writing from Australia and around the world! So no need to cry, tickets are now on sale for Short+Sweet Sydney 2017! Get booking here.
The world famous Stella Adler Academy is coming to Sydney for the first time... read more
This festival doesn't have any active submission
Our Team
Enquiries regarding the festival can be sent to wayne.tunks@shortandsweet.org
Festival Director: Wayne Tunks
Technical Manager: Louise Mason - Louise.Mason@shortandsweet.org
Stage Manager: Georgia Styles
Want to join our team?
Email: wayne.tunks@shortandsweet.org with your CV and details on what you would most like to get involved with behind the scenes of the world's biggest short play festival.
Week One
Week One Plays - January 11-15
Congratulations to our week one winners:
Judge's Votes:
1st Dead Giveaway
2nd Witness
3rd Beard
Dead Giveaway gets entry into the final
Festival Director's Choice:
Beard
Beard will go through to the Festival Director's Choice final
People's Choice Votes:
1st Dead Giveaway
2nd The Divide
3rd Witness
The Divide will go through to the People's Choice Final
1 - Alexander the Great
By James C Ferguson / Directed by Henrietta Stathopoulos
Cast: Maria Fouad, Gabrielle Green, Connor McInerny and Kayla Vanderent
How much territory does one man really need to conquer, anyway?
2 - Beard
Presented by Viridescent
Written by Erin Middleton and Robert Miniter / Directed by Lawrence Dooley
Cast: Erin Middleton and Robert Miniter
A classic tale of boy meets girl, with a not-so-classic twist
3 - Dead Giveaway
By Daniel Guyton / Directed by Felicity Burke
Cast: Duncan Armitage and Felicity Burke
Robert buys his wife an unconventional gift for Valentine's Day, which leads to an awkward conversation about love after death.
4 - The Divide
Written and Directed by Nicola Quilter
Cast: Pearl Herbet and Emmanuel Spiropoulos
It's been 30 years since the UK split apart and you need a passport to get into the walled city of London
5 - Heat Visions
Written and Directed by Nick Subjak
Cast: Alice Furze
Grabbing a bowl of cereal may seem simple, but not when you're sunburnt!
6 - Mid Life Crisis
Presented by SJT
Written and Directed by Robert Sharpe
Cast: Barbara Hastings, Alannah Robertson and Robert Sharpe
Mid life crisis? What crisis? The best time I have had in years, until..........
7 - The Office of Threats to Western Civilisation
Written by Kate Jaimet / Directed by Henrietta Stathopoulos
Cast: Connor McInerney, Gabrielle Green, Sophie Cuthel Logue, Guet MacAcuek, Nicolas Menohous and Mario Fouad
In 2015 the Canadian Prime Minister vowed that, if re-elected, he would establish a tipline where Canadians could denounce their neighbours for ‘barbaric cultural practices.’
8 - Outback Mountain
By Peter Greenaway / Directed by Suz Mawer
Cast: David Bedelis, Anthony Thomas
A disillusioned Sydney boy takes his moped on an ill-advised outback adventure in search of the stockman of his dreams, and gets more than he bargained for…
9 - Witness
By Bob Ballinger / Directed by Susan Stapleton
Cast: Donna Randall
A tragic story that shouldn’t have to be told, but must be.
Week Two
Week Two Plays - January 18-22
Top 80 Week Two Winners:
Judge's Picks:
1st - Dress Ups
2nd - George Brown Steps Out
3rd - Trojan T3
People's Choice:
1st - George Brown Steps Out
2nd - It's a Tragedy
3rd - Answer My Prayer
Festival Director's Choice:
Trojan T3
1 - Answer My Prayer
Presented by Active Theatre Productions
By Allan West / Directed by Richard Cotter
Cast: Steven Burns, Philip D'Ambrosio, Simon Doctor, Sarah Plummer, Alexandra Camp Martinez and Josiah Van Stolk
If we do or don't get what we pray for, how do we know if God was really listening?
2 - The Black Out
Written and Directed by Robyn Karakasch
Cast:Jock Bidwell, Thomas-Andrew Baxter, Sue Bidwell, Fran Bosly-Craft
Audience participation is required in a rehearsal for a Radio Drama play in which a power outage becomes a cause for concern.
3 - Dress Ups
Presented by Grinning Sharks Productions
Written and Directed by Graham Yates
Cast: Garreth Cruikshank
We all like to play. But be careful which game you choose.
4 - Forgotten
By Isaac Owen / Directed by Ruth Fingret
Cast: Kaitlin de Lacy, Colleen Henry, Ray Coyne, Uma Kali Shakti and Mel Ryan
Olive thinks she’s been kidnapped. Mary thinks Grandma has gone mad. Who is right?
5 - George Brown Steps Out
By Gerry Greenland / Directed by Sonia Bible
Cast: Rob White and Graham Yates
George’s life is pretty ordinary until today; now it’s going to change forever.
6 - It's A Tragedy
By Steven Otfinoski / Directed by Mandy Sugar
Cast: Ayeshah Rose and James Sugrue
Will Shakespeare comes to America to oversee a new production of "Hamlet," only to find his American producer has some interesting suggestions to make.
7 - Neptunes Part II
By Liam Burke / Directed by Renee Lim
Cast: Jodie Dal Bon, Constance Khoo, Brigid O'Sullivan, Eveline Schubert and Alexandra Stamell
1978. Backstage at Neptune's Lounge strip club in Kings Cross, an American journalist gets more than she asks for while investigating the international sex slave trade.
8 - The Supermarket
Presented by Bucking Broncos
Written by Chris Naylor / Directed by Liam Smith
Cast: Sally Williams and Haki Crisden
A shoppa-phobe is forced to negotiate the culture of the supermarket with disastrous consequences
9 - T3 Trojan
Presented by Bare Bones Theatre Co.
Written and Directed by Judith Duncan
Cast: Karishma Mathur
In a near future dystopia where the justice system is in the hands of computers,one woman,alone and blindfolded must defend her life.
Week Three
Week Three Plays - January 25-29
Week Three Top 80 Winners:
Judges Picks:
1st - Painting Seventeen
2nd - Moon Baby
3rd - Attachment Theory
Moist
Simulationship
People's Choice Votes:
1st - Moist
2nd - Moon Baby
3rd - Sssshh!!
Festival Director's Choice:
Attachment Theory
1 - Attachment Theory
Devised by Gina Tay Limpus and Jamie Kendall / Directed by Jamie Kendall
Cast: Gina Tay Limpus, Jamie Kendall
A Physical Theatre piece that explores American Psychologist John Bowbly’s theory of relationship attachment
2 - Beware the Zebra
Presented by THEM
Written by Xeno Nemos / Directed by Peter Whitehead
Cast: Melissa Hilas, Nicolo Artigas, Roslyn Hicks and Xeno Nemos
At the scene of an accident involving a cyclist, the police officer sides with the privileged against the victim, adding insult to injury.
3 - Crime Fiction
By Rachel Le Rossignol / Directed by Wombat GT
Cast: Jasmine Cabrera and Shayne deGroot
Sometimes you shouldn't ask a crime writer where they get their inspiration from.
4 - Moist
Presented by Grumpy Mandrake Theatre
By Seymour Nixen / Directed by Nathan Farrow
Sparkle, Frosty and Almond are two cupcakes and a muffin in a bakery who haven’t been eaten and times are desperate.
5 - Moon Baby
Presented by She'll Be Right On the Night
Written by Gina Cohen
Cast: Gina Cohen
While Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin are planning their walk on the moon, Carol is planning her moonlanding party. Things are not going to plan.
6 - Painting Seventeen
Written by Sharon Cooper / Directed by Alexander Andrews
Cast: Lauren Lloyd Williams and Eleanore Knox
An artist's self portrait reveals more than whats on the canvas.
7 - Simulationship
Written by David Strauss / Directed by Seymour Nixen
Cast: Matilda Moran and Nyssa Hamilton
Set in the not-too-distant future, Ryan and Beth practice with simulations of each other before actually going on a date, but this doesn't help them connect.
8 - Sparrows Die All the Time
Presented by Space Tiger Theatre Company
Written by Phillip Gallop / Directed by Glen Pead
Cast: Charlotte Hanson
The surviving half of an electrp-pop duo lives in the shadow of her deceased band mate, a legend that every year gets more removed from the friend she knew.
9 - Sshhh!
Written by Genevieve Tree / Directed by Florence Florens
Cast: Laurel McGowan, Richard Mason, Tim Ressos and Alison Benstead
In living rooms. Free of charge. For housemates only.
Week Four
Week Four Plays: February 1-5
Week Four Winners:
Judge's Pick:
1st Tapping Out
2nd One Night Stan
3rd Arthur & Marilyn
People's Choice Winner:
1st One Night Stan
2nd Arthur & Marilyn
3rd Hidden Depths
Festival Director's Choice:
Arthur & Marilyn
1 - Arthur and Marilyn
Presented By Half Boy Company
Written By Jasper-Lee Lindsay / Directed by Danen Young
Cast: Meg Hyeronimus and Alec Ebert
A fictitious recount of the night Arthur Miller and Marilyn Monroe met, where a moment alone together sparked an iconic relationship.
2 - Brexit
Presented By Budding Theatre Company
Written and directed by Kirsty Budding
Cast:Kaivu Suvarna, Amelia Green, Michael Ubrihien and Rina Onorato
On the day of the EU Referendum, a wait at a bus stop gets political...
3 - Diary of a Breakup / Breakdown
Presented by Alex Broun Company
Written By Alex Broun / Directed by Peter Whitehead
Cast:Claire Bird & Michael Booker
"Diary of a Break-up/Break-down", a play about the weeks after a relationship ends.
4 - Hidden Depths
Written by Pamela Western / Directed by Mark Fowler
Cast: Christine Aldridge and James Sugrue
A Pirate applies for a job at the Tax Office
5 - One Night Stan
Presented by Third Bite
Written by Adam Szudrich / Directed by Grant Wilson
Cast: Gina Cohen, Ally O'Brien and Emma Caldwell
After an extended hiatus, Stan’s been playing the dating game - but what is he after?
6 - Still Alive
Presented by Nautanki Theatre
Written and Directed by Dilbagh Singh
Cast: Dilroop Khangura, Shanelle Sin and Dilbagh Singh
A girl going through a confused state of mind about whether she is dead or alive. There is a moment of infatuation, an angel and devil all in one room.
7 - The Story of Darling Brown
Presented by The Monologue Project
Written and Directed by Pete Malicki
Cast: Katharine Babatzanis
Darling Brown was born was a crippling name and wants to know why her parents didn't give her a normal name, like her twin sister Jesse.
8 - Tapping Out
Written by Maura Pierlot / Directed by Cecile Payet
Cast: Kaiya Bartholomew, Brayden Harry, Ethan Mestroni and Anton Smilek
Trapped in his psyche, a young man drawn to rhythm, rather than words, taps his feelings for the woman he loves in a desperate bid to ward off reality.
9 - Wish You Were Hair
Presented by RAPA Inc
Written by Kaz Getts / Directed by Kaz Getts and Warren Bradley
Cast: Warren Bradley and Christine Engelheart
Hair plays an important part in our lives and like most good things we probably only miss it when it’s gone.
Week Five
Week Five Plays: February 8-12 (Wed - Sun @ 7.30pm)
Winners Week Five Top 80:
Judges Choice:
1st - A Dog Dreams
2nd - The Wee Small Hours
3rd - The Secret Of Me
People's Choice:
1st - Yellow Means Caution
2nd - The Wee Small Hours
Waiting For Go
Festival Director's Choice:
The Secret Of Me
1 - Det-end-tion
Presented by Moontan Productions
Written by Amelia Gilday & Alex Fenner / Directed byAmelia Gilday
The relationship between two students is tested when they discover their time is running out.
Cast: Riley Marnell and Daniel Pryke
2 - A Dog Dreams
Written by Jeffrey Fischer-Smith / Directed by Jace Pickard
Mark has recently died but returns to tell his grieving partner Andy that the family dog is grieving just as much.
Cast; Jack Dawson & Richard Lund
3 - Love, Honour & Obey
Written by Sally Williams / Directed by Angeline Andrews
A knife, a couple and a promise.
Cast: Kirra Farquharson and Will Reilly
4 - #NotAllMen
Presented by Village Spirit Productions
Written & Directed by Kel Vane
In the interrogation room of a police station, an alleged victim and perpetrator give their wildly different accounts of an encounter that took place earlier that evening.
Cast: Michelle Burge, Margareta Moir and James Walkom
5 - Not So Super
Presented by Musketeer Productions
Written & Directed by Paulene Turner
Tim lives in the shadow of his super family. But the time is coming for him to step forward into the light.
Cast: Paul Byrne, Nicholas Drummond, Liz Hovey and Rebecca Towns
6 - Objectum Sexuality
Written by Ron Burch / Directed by Kathryn Thomas
Mike has fallen in love with a rocking chair and, hopefully, Dr. Santos can help him.
Cast: Bryce Lavery-Jacko and Wayne Buckley
7 - The Secret of Me
Presented by Almost Evkav
Written by Sonal Moore / Directed by Evangeline Moore
A spontaneous night of fun in an art gallery storeroom is interrupted when Sarah discovers a confronting piece from her past.
Cast: Jack Marsden & Alexandra Joyce
8 - Waiting For Go
Written by Elspeth Tilley / Directed by Kym Vaitiekus
If the purpose of art is to make us see the world differently, what's the purpose of the roadworkers who have been stationed outside your front gate for eight weeks now?
Cast: Barbara Hastings, Seb Normel
9 - The Wee Small Hours
Presented By Angelfish Productions
Written by Leonie Jordan / Directed by Margaret Fitzgerald
A late night phone call becomes a journey of love, loss and healing in this touching and tender play about reaching out and letting go.
Cast: Pauline Gardner & Rob White
Music by Daniel O'Connor
10 - Yellow Means Caution
Written by Gregory Crafts / Directed by Victoria Lewis
Max comes home to find that his wife, Loretta, has painted every surface in their apartment bright yellow. Is it a bold style choice, or a sign that there's something amiss?
Cast: Emma Mylott & Andrew Wang
Week Six
Week Six Plays: February 15-19 (Wed - Sun @ 7.30pm)
Week Six Winners:
Judges Choice:
1st - Out of the Woods
2nd - Freestyle Pawn Stars
3rd - My Name is Lucinda
People's Choice:
1st - Freestyle Pawn Stars
2nd - Out of the Woods
3rd - Killjoy
Festival Director's Choice
My Name is Lucinda
1 - Broadband Blues
Written and Directed by Geoff McCubbin
Fred and Wilma try to come to terms with the NBN
Cast: David Humphrey, Fran Bosly-Craft, Mark Smith, Anton Baggerman
2 - Compos Mentis
Written by Marilyn Millstone / Directed by Patrick Matijevic
Robert and Alese Langford are interviewing for a coveted spot at Silver Glades Senior Living, but is Silver Glades really ready for Robert and Alese?
Cast: Aileen Beale, Graham Egan And Denise Kitching
3 - Freestyle Pawn Stars
Presented by e4 Productions
Written by Keegan Fisher, Jake Izzy, Julz Larson and Ziggy Tockuss / Directed by Dudley Levell
Freestyle Pawn Stars is a chess-themed, hip-hop infused, improvised play that celebrates rhythm, rhyme, riffs and freestyle rap.
Cast: Keegan Fisher, Jake Izzy, Julz Larson, Ziggy Tockuss and Mark Longhurst
4 - Ice Cream Mafia
Written by Vee Malnar / Directed by Thomas Richards
What happens when the mafia want to take over an icecream brand?
Cast: Jay Duncan, Erick Guanlao, Jasper Musgrave & Meili Bookluck
5 - Killjoy
Presented by Imprint Theatre Company
Company Devised
Pain Arrives Bang! But what happens next?
Cast: Wendi Lanham, Laurence Nelmes, Martin Quinn, Rebecca Waters, Kate Vozella & Annie Thorold
6 - The Last
Written by Bokkie Robertson / Directed by Chantelle Corbet
The last man on Earth comes to terms with his approaching death. Cast: Alex Hatz & Milica Pajic
7 - My Name is Lucinda
Presented by Backstage Pass
Written & Directed by Lisa Kelaher
As a child, Catherine took comfort in her grandmother's warm embrace and John Wayne westerns of daytime tv - problem is - she took it to a whole new level as an adult.
Cast: Margareta Moir
8 - Out of the Woods
Presented by Everyday Monster
Written & Directed by Brenton Amies & Cam Ralph
The story of two former Children’s TV Hosts reuniting after a turbulent few years. A dark comedy featuring a fluffy bear! Cast: Brenton Amies & Cam Ralph
Week Seven
Week Seven Plays: February 22-26 (Wed - Sun @ 7.30pm)
Week 7 Results:
Judges Choice:
1st - Time Squad
2nd - Mexican Stand Off
3rd - The Accident
People's Choice:
1st - Mexican Stand Off
2nd - The Accident
3rd - Mary Twist
4th - A Bottle of Vodka
Festival Director's Choice:
The Accident
1 - The Accident
Presented by Marko Mustac Productions
Written By Marko Mustac / Directed by Jenny Hope
A Black comedy about a dysfunctional couple in a long-term relationship who literally argue to death.
Cast: Marko Mustac & Lou Pollard
2 - At Home With Larry & George
Written by Gavin Roach / Directed by Amber Wilcox
At Home with Larry and George is a tale of art, good taste and the endless quest for excellence…no matter the cost.
Cast: Garreth Cruikshank & Reilly Johnson
3 - A Bottle of Vodka
Written by Connie Schinewolf / Directed by Larry Kelly
Two alcoholics are thrown into a room with no doors and a bottle of vodka; are they in heaven, hell, or somewhere in between?
Cast: Mark Fowler & Liz Hovey
4 - Island Journey
Presented by Rainbow Connections Theatre Co.
Written & Directed by Uma Kali Shakti
How do we gain closure? This in one woman’s journey attempting to fulfill cultural expectations while also dealing with grief and loss.
Cast: Veena Sudarshan
5 - The Lifecycle of Refrigerators
Written by Nataliya Oryshchuk / Directed by Adam Grubner
The team meeting's busy agenda includes many items: gardening for the homeless and befriending strangers, methods of stress relief and even loneliness of refrigerators…
Cast: Graham Egan, Luke Evans, Rizcel Gagawanan, David Luke & Sonja Ridden
6 - Mary Twist
Written & Directed by Mikayla Hatjinikitas
A young lady from the Victorian Era finds herself whisked away to a more desirable world.
Cast: Izzy Hanly, Damian Asher, Mark Herrison, Indiana Rubin-Tasic, Paris Galanos & Russell Kay
7 - Mexican Stand Off
Written by Sally Bartley / Directed by Spike Hogan
It's class warfare at the soccer, where rules were made to be broken.
Cast: Tristan Clarke, Isabel Dickson, Peter Maple & Jaime Ureta
8 - Not Toilet Trained
Presented by Seat of the Pants Productions
Written & Directed byRuth Fringret
Greg returns home to visit his parents to find things have changed, and not for the better. A light hearted look at dementia and its impact on family.
Cast: Valentino Arico, Sandra Campbell & Lewis Scamozzi
9 - The Search
Written by Michael Panes / Directed by Isabel Dickson
A professor thinks he's contacted alien life, but his wife thinks he needs to contact her first.
Cast: Emily Potts and Adnan Zey
10 - Ten Minutes on A train platform
Presented by Mariposa Productions
Written by Felix Carlyle / Directed by Margaret Fitzgerald
A lonely platform, late at night… Someone might need help…
Cast: Christine Aldridge & Isaac Owen
11 - Time Squad
Presented by Black Box Theatre Co.
Written by Alexander Cuff / Directed by Luke Berman
In the Time Squad, agents are taught to avoid distorting the natural flow of the space-time continuum. So, what happens when two of the top Time Cops break that rule? Or... will break that rule?
Cast: Bradley Ward, Alex Groombridge, Sam Sweeting & Sam Lovell
12 - Wheelchair
Written by Scott Mullen / Directed by Diane Busuttil
A woman in a wheelchair strikes up a conversation with a man in a park, talking about their lives and making bets about the behaviour of other people they see. Are they headed for love – or something else?
Cast: Paul Kohn & Latisha Owens
Week Eight
Week Eight Plays: March 1-5 (Wed - Sun @ 7.30pm)
Week 8 Results:
Judge's Choice
1st - One Punch
2nd - Floss
- Game of the Century
3rd - Stargazers
People's Choice
1st - Game of the Century
2nd - One Punch
3rd - Stargazers
Festival Director's Choice
Floss
1 - The Bridge
Presented by Mega Theatre Productions
Written by Jayaprakash Kulur / Directed by Sreejith Gangadharan
A chance encounter of two strangers at a bridge progresses into an eventful journey, where the privileged is disempowered.
Cast: Sreejith Gangadharan, Nithin Balakrishnan
2 - Floss
Written by John Tilbrook / Directed by Addie Fowler
Hearts are full instead of cavities at this dentist’s, and secret loves are tested by a woman with wicked intentions.
Cast: Justine Matulewicz, Jasper Musgrave & Rachel Marley
3 - Game of the Century
Presented by JAMS Productions
Written by Mark Longhurst / Directed by Steve Tait
A prequel to last year’s Short+Sweet play Match of the Century, Game of the Century integrates elements of rhythm, rhyme and spoken word in order to chronicle the extraordinary rise of chess player Bobby Fischer and pay tribute to one of the greatest games of chess ever played.
Cast: Manon Gunderson-Briggs, Heath Jelovic, Mark Longhurst, Chris Tomkinson & Andrew Wang
4 - Good Vibrations
Written by Susan Mattocks / Directed by Valentino Arico
Shayleen's mission to discreetly buy a vibrator in the local sex shop doesn't go to plan...
Cast: Sandra Campbell, Emma Louise & David Wiernik
5 - Judgement Days
Presented by Mockingbird
Written by Carl J Sorheim / Directed by Chris Baldock
A man recounts his path to redemption
Cast: Nick Steain
6 - One Punch
Presented by Ranting Mime
Written & Directed by Jessica Fallico
A mum and dad process the news of their son dying in a one-punch attack.
Cast: Jacinta Moses & Anthony Thomas
7 - Press Pray
Written by Seth Freeman / Directed by Wayne Underwood
A desperate soul prays – and receives a response.
Cast: Glenn Anthony Levett & Wayne Underwood
8 - Stargazers
Written by Greg Gould / Directed by Simeon Yialeloglou
In an infinite universe, anything is possible ... even love.
Cast: Blake Eaton. Georgia Heiniger & David Quinn
9 - Time Machine
Presented by Natguru
Written by Bratya Basu / Directed by Asim Das
A family is shaken by the revelation of a secret past about their relationships and looks for pleas to protect their precious present.
Cast: Surja Gupta, Madhulekha Das, Anirban Basu & Rima Sen
10 - Tying Up Loose Ends
Presented by Blackout Theatre Co
Written by Mark Harvey Levine / Directed by Delle Fowler
The relationship is over. Now all that's left is a custody battle over a stack of CDs.
Cast: Daniel Boole, Daniel Conway & Delle Fowler
11 - When Babies Fly
Written by Steve Korbar / Directed by Avantika Tomar
On a redeye flight, a screaming child prompts a couple to find romantic attraction through their mutual dislike of children. Cast: Dimitri Kleioris and Avantika Tomar
12 - Ying Yang
Presented by Scene Theatre Productions
Written & Directed by Carol Dance
Two students from totally different backgrounds meet and immediately start a dangerous game of flirting.
Cast: Harrison Freeland & Erica Long
Wildcards - Week Two
Wildcards Week Two Plays: January 21 & 22
Wildcards Week Two Results:
Judges Votes:
1st - The Christmas Fairy
2nd - Woman's Idea
3rd - Stand Off
People's Choice Votes:
1st - Woman's Idea
2nd - Mister Hipster Meets the Barista
3rd - The Christmas Fairy
1 - The Christmas Fairy
Written by Adele Lewin & Nigel Palfreman / Directed by Adele Lewin
Cast: Adele Lewin
Will Crystal fulfill her raison d'etre this Christmas or once again be thwarted by a younger rival.
2 - Mister Hipster Meets the Barista
Written by Warren Glover / Directed by Felix Carlyle
Cast: Paul Byrne and Emma Caldwell
A coffee obsessive loses his beans over a coffee-hating tea-loving barista.
3 - The Northern Light
Presented by Regional Institute of Performing Arts
Written and Directed by Ruth Moriarty
Cast: Ethan Dale, Alexander Davison and Ryan Beazley
Three men in a boat off the remote coastline of Northern Scotland begin to ponder their existence.
4 - Snow
Presented by Regional Institute of Performing Arts
Written and Directed by Ethan Dale
Cast: Ruth Moriarty, Ryan Bates and Cooper McDonald
A post-apocalyptic Christmas celebration involving 3 people, 2 bullets and 1 gun.
5 - Stand-Off
Presented by Regional Institute of Performing Arts
Written and Directed by Ryan Bates
Cast: Connor Gibson, Harry Burns, Cooper McDonald and Ethan Dale
A bag of money, a priest and guns – it’s not going to end well.
6 - Woman's Idea
Presented by The Performance Crew
Written and Directed by Wendy Crew
Cast: Alison Grace, Amanda Lieber and Jesse McGoldrick
We get a look-in behind the scenes of the gossip magazine industry.
Wildcards - Week Three
Wildcards Week Three Plays: January 28 & 29
Wildcards Week Three Results:
Judges Choice:
1st Exhuming the King
2nd Concerning the Romanovs
3rd Reindeer Afterlife
People's Choice:
1st Concerning the Romanovs
2nd But For the Grace of God
1 - But For the Grace of God
By Terence Bourke / Directed by Uma Kali Shakti
Cast: Mark Fowler and Marcus Rivera
Two very disparate men far from home, discover the truth about their differing realities.
2 - Concerning the Romanovs
Presented by Regional Institute of Performing Arts
Written and directed by Sam Lawrence
Cast: Alexander Davison, Cooper McDonald, Ruth Moriarty, Ethan Dale and Connor Gibson
A revolutionary black comedy with a right royal death toll
3 - Exhuming the King
Presented by Regional Institute of Performing Arts
Written and directed by Cooper McDonald
Cast: Ryan Beazley, Ethan Dale, Ryan Bates, Harry Burns
Three body snatchers attempt to rob Elvis Presley's grave.
4 - Interplanetary Communication
Presented by EverySecondWeekend
Written and directed by Simon Tonkin
Cast: Keith Conway and Rebecca Sayers
Our besotted couple had every intention of being open, honest and understanding with one another.
5 - Reindeer Afterlife
Written by Michael Panes / Directed by Simeon Yialeloglou
Damian Asher, Eveline Schubert and Simeon Yialeloglou
A Reindeer has to resolve some old wounds before deciding on reincarnating again as a human.
Wildcards - Week Five Plays
Wildcards Week Five: February 11 and 12 at 4pm
Week 5 Wildcards Results:
Judge's Choice:
1st: Last Swing
2nd: Bob & Mittens
3rd: Voices From the Margins Project
People's Choice:
Bob & Mittens
1 - Bob & Mittens
Presented by Regional Institute of Performing Arts
Written & Directed by Jayden Gobbe-Mezzina
Bob and his long-term girlfriend have recently broken up. The couple’s cat Mittens has had enough of Bob moping around and tries to help Bob out of this slump.
Cast: Jayden Gobbe-Bezzina & Ryan Bates
2 - James Randi Debunks Pawpaw Tom
Written by Pete Malicki / Directed by Michael Gooley
Famous sceptic James Randi attempts to prove Pawpaw Tom’s miracle healing cream a fraud. But does he bite off more than he can chew?
Cast: Steve Marchant, Lynda Leavers & Michael Gooley
3 - Last Swing
Presented by Flutterby Productions
Written by Kazuyo Kitada / Directed by Uma Kali Shakti
How do you get over a broken heart? Watch as Jody and Rachel begin the process...
Cast: Kerry Foley & Claire Langsford
4 - Like Mother, Like Daughter
Written & Directed by Warren Glover
A mother and daughter find they have more in common than either of them bargained for.
Cast:Lynda Leavers & Marina Porokh
5 - Voices from the Margins Project
Written by Kylie Mulcahy / Directed by Felicity Burke
A "socially disadvantaged woman" is exposed in the media with interesting consequences.
Cast: Allie Margin & Ernst Nil
Wildcards Week 6
WIldcards Week 6 - Feb 18 & 19 at 4pm
Wildcards Week Six Winners:
Judge's Choice:
1st - Pinata
2nd - Subterranean Homesick Blues, Again
3rd - The Fifth Stage
People's Choice:
1st - Pinata
2nd - Get a Life
Plays:
1 - The Fifth Stage
Written & Directed by Greg Eccleston
Manny & Elisabeth’s relationship ended a year ago; One of them has moved on, the other is still grieving.
Cast:Greg Eccleston, Sierra Phillips
2 - The Game
Written by Karen Granger / Directed by Ann Elbourne
The stakes are high as three friends resolve their romantic differences over a game of cards.
Cast: Clare Langsford, Alan Long & Sam Savage
3 - Get a Life
Written & Directed by Robert Ballinger
Two men literally bump into each other while playing Pokémon. But are they who we think they are, and are they who they think they are?
Cast: Josh Chao and Edric Hong
4 - Pinata
Presented by Grouch Productions
Written by Scott Mullen / Directed by Isaac Downey & Kathyrn Thomas
Two women try to keep themselves under control at a child's birthday party.
Cast: Nicole Smith, Jo Smith-Tietz and Kristi Williams.
5 - Subterranean Homesick Blues, Again
Written by Addie Fowler / Directed by Mark Fowler
A tour guide grows tired of a couple’s incessant bickering and decides to teach them a lesson.
Cast: Addie Fowler
6 - A View of Lake Como
Written & Directed by Michael Gooley
Two old friends consider the familiar scenery of their familiar lives. Cast: Erick Guanlao & Michael Gooley
Wildcards Week Seven
Wildcards Week Seven - Feb 24 & 25 at 4pm
Wildcards Week Seven Results:
1st - Stephen's Last Night
2nd - Intermission
3rd - It's What Friends Do
People's Choice Winner:
Intermission
Plays:
1 - Intermission
Written & Directed by Sharlene Zeederberg
Momentarily suspended between life and death, Steve tries to work out what he really believes in.
Cast: Peter Condon, Elizabeth Routledge, Feras Shaheen & Rachell Dade
2 - It's What Friends Do
Written & Directed by Robert Ballinger
A father/husband, with Motor Neurone Disease, is visited by a childhood friend who helps him make a difficult decision. Cast: Edric Hong, Dean Nicholson & Christine Engleheart
3 - Queerachy
Written by Zoe Brinnard / Directed by Megan Shooter
Cast: Rebecca Abdel-Messih, Alana Birtles, Wayne Dawson & Zed Norrie
4 -Screen Killer
Written by Brett Simoen / Directed by Susan Geldart
One murder. Two murders. Three murders? Things are getting careless both on and offscreen in the corridors of Follywood.
Cast: Josh Morel, Lynda Leavers, Bill Jordan, Susan Geldart, Paddy Seymour & Liz Coote
Stephen's Last Night Trevar Alan Chilver Trevar Alan Chilver trevar@shortandsweet.org Stephen’s slept with every woman in the building, except one. And there are a few men to cross off the list, too… Brendan Kelly, Felicity Knott & Katrin Praseli
5 - Stephen's Last Night
Written & Directed by Trevar Alan Chilver
Stephen’s slept with every woman in the building, except one. And there are a few men to cross off the list, too…
Cast: Brendan Kelly, Felicity Knott & Katrin Praseli
Wildcards Week Eight
Wildcards Week Eight - March 4+5 at 4pm
Wildcards Week 8 Winners:
Judge's Choice:
1st - Small Talk
2nd - Car Talk
3rd - Fighting Mr Right
People's Choice:
Fighting Mr Right
The People's Choice play to make the finals is:
Woman's Idea
Plays:
1 - Car Talk
Written by Elaine Alexander / Directed by Alison Albany
An insecure accountant takes his status-seeking fiancee car shopping only to find that every car literally speaks to him, turning the search for the perfect car into the search for his true self Cast: Jessica Lowe, Andrew Gordon, Daniel Poole & Sandy Sharma
2 - De Bon De Constructed
Written by Michael Sams / Directed by Feng Qiu
Meet De Bon, a man reflecting on his artistic endeavours from a range of perspectives.
Cast: Feng Qiu
3 - Fighting Mr Right
Written by Barbara Lindsay / Directed by Jasper Musgrave
After a great first date, a young man finds out there are rules to follow to get to second base, or even a second date.
Cast: Alex Laundess and Jodie Mathews
4 - Heartless / Broken
Written & Directed by Georgia Rose Thompson
Cast: Georgia Rose Thompson
5 - Post Partum
Written by Marsha Roberts / Roz Hicks
Jenny has had it with being a stay-at-home mother; she corners her husband into switching roles and then proceeds to show him exactly what’s involved.
Cast: Jessica Lowe and Richard Woodhouse
6 - Small Talk
Written by David McGregor / Directed by Emma Caldwell
A recently engaged couple visit a counsellor in hopes of resolving the one problem in their relationship.
Cast: Shell McKenzie, Emma Medbury, Matt Osborn and Brenton Dine.
7 - 8 Months & 17 Days
Presented by Tunks Productions
Written & Directed by Wayne Tunks
For Jason and Rohan it was love … until it wasn't.
Cast: Philip D'Ambrosio, Alex Ewan & Jace Pickard
(Please note that as this play is presented by the Festival Director, it will not be eligible for voting)
Short+Sweet Queer
As part of Short+Sweet Sydney 2017 and the Sydney Mardi Gras 2017
The best LGBTQI plays from the Short+Sweet 2017 Season
Curated by Wayne Tunks
Tues March 7 & Wed March 8 at 7.30pm
1 - Beard
Presented by Viridescent
Written by Erin Middleton and Robert Miniter / Directed by Lawrence Dooley
Cast: Erin Middleton and Robert Miniter
A classic tale of boy meets girl, with a not-so-classic twist
2 - Outback Mountain
By Peter Greenaway / Directed by Suz Mawer
Cast: David Bedelis, Anthony Thomas
A disillusioned Sydney boy takes his moped on an ill-advised outback adventure in search of the stockman of his dreams, and gets more than he bargained for…
3 - Dress Ups
Presented by Grinning Shark Productions
Written and Directed by Graham Yates
Cast: Garreth Cruikshank
We all like to play. But be careful which game you choose.
4 - 8 Months & 17 Days
Presented by Tunks Productions
Written and Directed by Wayne Tunks
Cast: Philip D'Ambrosio, Alex Ewan & jace Pickard
5 - A Dog Dreams
Written by Jeffrey Fischer-Smith / Directed by Jace Pickard
Mark has recently died but returns to tell his grieving partner Andy that the family dog is grieving just as much.
Cast; Jack Dawson & Richard Lund
6 - Queerachy
Written by Zoe Brinnard / Directed by Megan Shooter
Four people go out for a night of fun that turns into a search for what's right, wrong and everything in between.
Cast: Rebecca Abdel-Messih, Alana Birtles, Wayne Dawson & Zed Norrie
Festival Director's Final
Each week our Festival Director will pick a play that thinks displayed excellence in writing, directing, acting and team work.
Those plays will have their own final on Thurs March 9 and Fri March 10 at 7.30pm
One play will be chosen to go to the Gala Final the following week.
The plays through so far:
Week 1:
Beard
Presented by Viridescent
Written by Erin Middleton and Robert Miniter / Directed by Lawrence Dooley
Cast: Erin Middleton and Robert Miniter
A classic tale of boy meets girl, with a not-so-classic twist
Week 2:
T3 Trojan
Presented by Bare Bones Theatre Co.
Written and Directed by Judith Duncan
Cast: Karishma Mathur
In a near future dystopia where the justice system is in the hands of computers,one woman,alone and blindfolded must defend her life.
Week 3:
Attachment Theory
Devised by Gina Tay Limpus and Jamie Kendall / Directed by Jamie Kendall
Cast: Gina Tay Limpus, Jamie Kendall
A Physical Theatre piece that explores American Psychologist John Bowbly’s theory of relationship attachment
Week Four:
Arthur and Marilyn
Presented By Half Boy Company
Written By Jasper-Lee Lindsay / Directed by Danen Young
Cast: Meg Hyeronimus and Alec Ebert
A fictitious recount of the night Arthur Miller and Marilyn Monroe met, where a moment alone together sparked an iconic relationship.
Week Five:
The Secret of Me
Presented by Almost Evkav
Written by Sonal Moore / Directed by Evangeline Moore
A spontaneous night of fun in an art gallery storeroom is interrupted when Sarah discovers a confronting piece from her past.
Cast: Jack Marsden & Alexandra Joyce
Week Six:
My Name is Lucinda
Presented by Backstage Pass
Written & Directed by Lisa Kelaher
As a child, Catherine took comfort in her grandmother's warm embrace and John Wayne westerns of daytime tv - problem is - she took it to a whole new level as an adult.
Cast: Margareta Moir
Week Seven:
The Accident
Presented by Marko Mustac Productions
Written By Marko Mustac / Directed by Jenny Hope
A Black comedy about a dysfunctional couple in a long-term relationship who literally argue to death.
Cast: Marko Mustac & Lou Pollard
Week Eight:
Floss
Written by John Tilbrook / Directed by Addie Fowler
Hearts are full instead of cavities at this dentist’s, and secret loves are tested by a woman with wicked intentions.
Cast: Justine Matulewicz, Jasper Musgrave & Rachel Marley
People's Choice Final
Each week our audience will vote for a play to make the People's Choice Final.
Those plays will have their own final on Sat March 11 and Sun March 12 at 7.30pm
The winner at the end of this final will go to the Gala Final the following week.
The plays through so far:
Week 1:
The Divide
Written and Directed by Nicola Quilter
Cast: Pearl Herbet and Emmanuel Spiropoulos
It's been 30 years since the UK split apart and you need a passport to get into the walled city of London
Week 2:
George Brown Steps Out
By Gerry Greenland / Directed by Sonia Bible
Cast: Rob White and Graham Yates
George’s life is pretty ordinary until today; now it’s going to change forever.
Week 3:
Moist
Presented by Grumpy Mandrake Theatre
By Seymour Nixen / Directed by Nathan Farrow
Sparkle, Frosty and Almond are two cupcakes and a muffin in a bakery who haven’t been eaten and times are desperate.
Week 4:
One Night Stan
Presented by Third Bite
Written by Adam Szudrich / Directed by Grant Wilson
Cast: Gina Cohen, Ally O'Brien and Emma Caldwell
After an extended hiatus, Stan’s been playing the dating game - but what is he after?
Week Five:
Yellow Means Caution
Written by Gregory Crafts / Directed by Victoria Lewis
Max comes home to find that his wife, Loretta, has painted every surface in their apartment bright yellow. Is it a bold style choice, or a sign that there's something amiss?
Cast: Emma Mylott & Andrew Wang
Week Six:
Freestyle Pawn Stars
Presented by e4 Productions
Written by Keegan Fisher, Jake Izzy, Julz Larson and Ziggy Tockuss / Directed by Dudley Levell
Freestyle Pawn Stars is a chess-themed, hip-hop infused, improvised play that celebrates rhythm, rhyme, riffs and freestyle rap.
Cast: Keegan Fisher, Jake Izzy, Julz Larson, Ziggy Tockuss and Mark Longhurst
Week Seven:
Mary Twist
Written & Directed by Mikayla Hatjinikitas
A young lady from the Victorian Era finds herself whisked away to a more desirable world.
Cast: Izzy Hanly, Damian Asher, Mark Herrison, Indiana Rubin-Tasic, Paris Galanos & Russell Kay
Week Eight:
Game of the Century
Presented by JAMS Productions
Written by Mark Longhurst / Directed by Steve Tait
A prequel to last year’s Short+Sweet play Match of the Century, Game of the Century integrates elements of rhythm, rhyme and spoken word in order to chronicle the extraordinary rise of chess player Bobby Fischer and pay tribute to one of the greatest games of chess ever played.
Cast: Manon Gunderson-Briggs, Heath Jelovic, Mark Longhurst, Chris Tomkinson & Andrew Wang
Wildcards Final
Each week our industry professionals will choose a play to make the Wildcards Final.
Those plays will have their own final on Sat March 11 and Sun March 12 at 4pm
A people's choice play and a Festival Director's Choice will also make the final.
The winner at the end of this final will go to the Gala Final the following week.
The plays through so far:
First Selection:
The Christmas Fairy
Written by Adele Lewin & Nigel Palfreman / Directed by Adele Lewin
Cast: Adele Lewin
Will Crystal fulfill her raison d'etre this Christmas or once again be thwarted by a younger rival.
Second Selection:
Exhuming the King
Presented by Regional Institute of Performing Arts
Written and directed by Cooper McDonald
Cast: Ryan Beazley, Ethan Dale, Ryan Bates, Harry Burns
Three body snatchers attempt to rob Elvis Presley's grave.
Third Selection:
Last Swing
Presented by Flutterby Productions
Written by Kazuyo Kitada / Directed by Uma Kali Shakti
How do you get over a broken heart? Watch as Jody and Rachel begin the process...
Cast: Kerry Foley & Claire Langsford
Fourth Selection:
Pinata
Presented by Grouch Productions
Written by Scott Mullen / Directed by Isaac Downey & Kathyrn Thomas
Two women try to keep themselves under control at a child's birthday party.
Cast: Nicole Smith, Jo Smith-Tietz and Kristi Williams.
Fifth Selection:
Stephen's Last Night
Written & Directed by Trevar Alan Chilver
Stephen’s slept with every woman in the building, except one. And there are a few men to cross off the list, too…
Cast: Brendan Kelly, Felicity Knott & Katrin Praseli
Sixth Selection:
Small Talk
Written by David McGregor / Directed by Emma Caldwell
A recently engaged couple visit a counsellor in hopes of resolving the one problem in their relationship.
Cast: Shell McKenzie, Emma Medbury, Matt Osborn and Brenton Dine.
People's Choice Winner:
Woman's Idea
Presented by The Performance Crew
Written and Directed by Wendy Crew
Cast: Alison Grace, Amanda Lieber and Jesse McGoldrick
We get a look-in behind the scenes of the gossip magazine industry.
Gala Finals
Over three nights our winning plays will again compete to crown the major winners of Short+Sweet Sydney 2017.
The shows will take place on Thursday March 16, Friday March 17 and Saturday March 18, with prizes given out that Saturday night.
There will be the 8 weekly Top winners, the People's Choice Winner, the Festival Director's Choice and the Wildcard's Winner.
In the final so far:
Week One:
Dead Giveaway
By Daniel Guyton / Directed by Felicity Burke
Cast: Duncan Armitage and Felicity Burke
Robert buys his wife an unconventional gift for Valentine's Day, which leads to an awkward conversation about love after death.
Week Two:
Dress Ups
Presented by Grinning Sharks Productions
Written and Directed by Graham Yates
Cast: Garreth Cruikshank
We all like to play. But be careful which game you choose.
Week Three:
Painting Seventeen
Written by Sharon Cooper / Directed by Alexander Andrews
Cast: Lauren Lloyd Williams and Eleanore Knox
An artist's self portrait reveals more than whats on the canvas.
Week Four:
Tapping Out
Written by Maura Pierlot / Directed by Cecile Payet
Cast: Kaiya Bartholomew, Brayden Harry, Ethan Mestroni and Anton Smilek
Trapped in his psyche, a young man drawn to rhythm, rather than words, taps his feelings for the woman he loves in a desperate bid to ward off reality.
Week Five:
A Dog Dreams
Written by Jeffrey Fischer-Smith / Directed by Jace Pickard
Mark has recently died but returns to tell his grieving partner Andy that the family dog is grieving just as much.
Cast; Jack Dawson & Richard Lund
Week Six:
Out of the Woods
Presented by Everyday Monster
Written & Directed by Brenton Amies & Cam Ralph
The story of two former Children’s TV Hosts reuniting after a turbulent few years. A dark comedy featuring a fluffy bear!
Cast: Brenton Amies & Cam Ralph
Week Seven:
Time Squad
Presented by Black Box Theatre Co.
Written by Alexander Cuff / Directed by Luke Berman
In the Time Squad, agents are taught to avoid distorting the natural flow of the space-time continuum. So, what happens when two of the top Time Cops break that rule? Or... will break that rule?
Cast: Bradley Ward, Alex Groombridge, Sam Sweeting & Sam Lovell
Week Eight:
One Punch
Presented by Ranting Mime
Written & Directed by Jessica Fallico
A mum and dad process the news of their son dying in a one-punch attack.
Cast: Jacinta Moses & Anthony Thomas
2017 Sydney Winners
2017 Winners:
Best Production:
1st - Out of the Woods
2nd - One Night Stan
3rd - Tapping Out
People's Choice Award:
One Night Stan
Best Play / Script:
Jasper Lee-Lindsay - Arthur & Marilyn
Best Director:
Cecile payet - Tapping Out
The Kerry Casey Best Actor Award:
Alec Ebert - Arthur & Marilyn
Best Actress:
Meg Hyeronimus - Arthur & Marilyn
Best New Talent:
Addie Fowler - Floss
Best Poster:
Out of the Woods